239. POWER OF INSPECTORS TO CARRY INVESTIGATION INTO AFFAIRS OF RELATED COMPANIES OR OF MANAGING AGENT OR ASSOCIATE, ETC.

(1) If an inspector appointed under section 235 or 237 to investigate the affairs of the company thinks it necessary for the purposes of his investigation to investigate also the affairs of -

(a) any other body corporate which is, or has at any relevant time been, the company's subsidiary or holding company, or a sub-sidiary of its holding company, or a holding company of its subsidiary ; or

(b) any other body corporate which is, or has at any relevant time been, managed by any person as managing director or as manager, who is, or was, at the relevant time, the managing director or the manager of the company ; or

(c) any other body corporate, which is, or has at any relevant time been, managed by the company or whose Board of directors comprises of nominees of the company or is accustomed to act in accordance with the directions or instructions of -

(i) the company, or

(ii) any of the directors of the company, or

(iii) any company, any of whose directorships is held by the employees or nominees of those having the control and management of the first-mentioned company ; or

(d) any person who is or has at any relevant time been the company's managing director or manager, the inspector shall, subject to the provisions of sub-section (2), have power so to do and shall report on the affairs of the other body corporate or of the managing director or manager, so far as he thinks that the results of his investigation thereof are relevant to the investigation of the affairs of the first-mentioned company.

(2) In the case of any body corporate or person referred to in clause (b)(ii), (b)(iii), (c) or (d) of sub-section (1), the inspector shall not exercise his power of investigating into, and reporting on, its or his affairs without first having obtained the prior approval of the Central Government thereto:

Provided that before according approval under this sub-section, the Central Government shall give the body corporate or person a reasonable opportunity to show cause why such approval should not be accorded.